GUILDFORD Heat's first season finally tips off against the Newcastle Eagles tomorrow after their summer switch from Bracknell – and club officials anticipate success on and off the court.

After failing to secure a future in their old Berkshire home, the former Thames Valley Tigers franchise are hoping the inaugural season will sow the seeds of a basketball culture at their new base.

Head coach Paul James, in his ninth season in charge, said: “It has been tricky with the move but I think we have got a great bunch of players. All these guys are very eager and keen. I think we can achieve a lot of things.

“We will not be the tallest team in the BBL this season but we will be athletic and the players have a lot of heart and good defensive skills. We might not win trophies in our first season but I believe we have the players to cause some upsets. We want players who can perform on the court but we also want ones who can go out into the community. These are fine young men and I have no problem with them going into schools.”

The Heat, whose first home clash is against Leicester at Spectrum on Sunday, have a promising crop of players to match their ambitions, including future Commonwealth forward Mike Martins, and US point guard Brian Dux.

Questions will be asked about the sustainability of a basketball team in Guildford given that the previous incumbents at Spectrum, the Kings, collapsed a decade ago after just three troubled seasons.

But The Heat are already networking in schools around the town to dig themselves in for a long stint in Guildford.

Chairman Mike Davies said: “The major thing for us is to get into the community. The children are the audience. We want to get into schools and the children will be in awe of these players and they will want to start to play basketball.”

Davies intends the Heat to spread out of Guildford and into the surrounding boroughs with Spectrum - which already has two children's clubs - acting as a hub.

“We are most looking forward to winning. Success breeds success,” he added.

The need for off-court success has filtered through to the players as well. Dux is relishing the chance to get into the community and bring the game to a new generation of players. He said: “It's going to be really fun to do. Anything to help get our kids involved.”